Commission recognizes Celiac Disease Awareness Day

BERNALILLO — The Sandoval County Commission recognized Celiac Disease Awareness Day at the Sept. 10 meeting, though the day actually falls on Sept. 13.

Vice Chair Jordan Juarez, before reading a proclamation about the day, revealed that he has the disease.

“I myself am a celiac maniac. I was diagnosed when I was 19, and since then I can say it has been great to know that we are making strides at at least having better food for fellow celiacs to be able to eat,” he said.

He added that affordability of celiac-friendly foods is an ongoing issue.

The proclamation was presented to Renee Euler, a registered dietitian and nutritionist and the chairperson of the National Celiac Association in Albuquerque. She said she was also diagnosed at the age of 19 about 30 years ago and has seen a lot change with awareness around the disease.

“NCA resides here in Sandoval County. It helps people with celiac disease sort of work through learning to deal with the diet, because it’s not an easy thing by any means. But the national chapter has a lot of resources on their website. They have an ask the expert section, which I write for, as well as lots of information for people that are newly diagnosed,” she stated.

The local chapter also has monthly potluck meetings, she said, “which walking into a room where you can have anything on that potluck table is pretty amazing. As somebody with celiac disease, we get lots of tears, often, the first time somebody shows up at that meeting and they’re able to eat anything on the table,” she said.

She expanded on the food insecurity that Juarez alluded to as well.

“Food insecurity is big in the celiac community, and we’re seeing definite cuts there. Whatever we can do to help support people with celiac disease with food insecurity would be amazing, too,” she said.